For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him… Col2.9 NKJV
The immediate application of these words by the apostle is to dissuade us from assigning any value to religious notions and practices that could never bring us closer to God. We are told instead, that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ and Christ has come to dwell in us through faith. To possess Christ is to possess all that is needed before the Father. There is actually a play on words in this encouragement. In the original language, the word, “fullness” and the word “complete” are the same. Christ is the fullness of God and we are made full in Him. What could possibly be added to that? Even our thanksgivings and offerings of worship flow out of this experience rather than add to it. We can no more add to Christ than we could if we tried to add water to an overflowing spring.
We might very well ask to what religious notions and practices is the apostle referring. Apart from those mentioned, any notion or practice which is not the overflow of His presence in us is a waste of time. That would mean of course that my devotional practices have no value whatsoever if by them I am trying to add merit to the merit of Christ. But if I come to this stream to drink from its fullness, then my practice is to experience that fullness, not add to it. 7/16/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
